J1 XV V MU Barnhall RFC J1 by D. O’Brien – Metropolitan Cup Quarter Final 23.03.2025
St Mary’s College RFC J1 V MU Barnhall RFC J1
38 17
Metropolitan Cup
Quarter Final
Templeville Road
Sunday 23rd March 2025.
Overall
This J1 side has developed into a fine young team with a strong and clever pack and a smart backline. They performed well today in an entertaining game, played with good pace and skill. Their talented captain, Aaron O’Neill, was unavailable, having been involved in the senior game yesterday, however his normal scrumhalf and vice-captain Adam McEvoy, stood up at Ten, and performed most creditably throughout, leading and kicking well, with a fine overall game. Joe Nolan and his high energy game, was unavailable too. The pack was strong, the front row was of the highest calibre and a secondrow with a Potts (Leon) and Ian Wickham meant top quality ball all match and great open field contributions. Young Joe Durkan flanked by ubiquitous Dan Lyons and flying Howard Noonan, showed continuing and impressive progress. The backline is starting to move well, albeit with some handling errors and a certain reluctance to share the ball. It has quite and amount of potential as one might guess with a Kennedy and a Carey involved, not to mention high quality Steve Kilgallen, who was a constant threat to the visitors. Later in the game Jack Halpin, son of great senior fullback, Garth came on and his pedigree was hard not to see.
The game
The game was only two minutes old when Marys, playing up towards the Cabbage Patch End, had a lineout in their own half, when young promising scrumhalf, Shane McGrath, got the ball he curved round the back, went sharp inside the tail defence and hit the turbo, he left all, then when covered he put a quality kick ahead into the Barnhall 22. The defender had to scuttle the ball into touch; and following our lineout and drive, the ball went blind to Steve, he took a fine vector and over in the Cabbage Patch Corner. 5-0.
It was ten minutes and when defending in our own 22, Jamie, took on the ball and made progress; as he did all game. Jamie is getting back to his very best. The ball was swung out and Ross Moore who shows impressive pace and pluck, made a hole in the defence, then kicked ahead, Stephen Kennedy showed his sprinter pace and immense potential, as he swooped on the ball and left all for yesterday. Adam converted and it was 12-0. On 24 minutes after a period of see-saw high pitched play, Shane broke in midfield and then put in a top-class curved kick ahead and Ross showing that zip pace, left all the defenders behind and got up to tap down in the Well Corner. Fine conversion from Adam and it was 19-0.
Then 36 minutes, a lineout taken well by Ian, was taken on then rucked and it went through hands out to Ross, who sailed over in the Well Corner, Adam converted from far out and made the score 26-0.
Just on half time after a short penalty and several drives the visitors breached the barricades and it was 26-7.That was halftime
Second half. It was 48 minutes and Barnhall got another back 26-12. And it was 51minutes and after a series of attacks by Marys, with Jamie involved several times, and the two second rowers, Steven fed Howard Noonan, on the visitors’ 22 and he showed his power and pace as he bust through tackles and accelerated over the line at the Road End and Adam converted once more. 33-12.
Then 61 minutes gone, and from loose play a ball came out from a breakdown and Mark McHugh (no not him, but Bob’s son), showed impressive hands with a back flick to Ross in The Barnhall 22. He was closed so he tapped the ball on and beat all with pace, caught it on the bounce up and scored in Carvill Corner. Excellent try and his hat trick, 38-12. Barnhall got a consolation score on 78 minutes to make the final score, 38-17.
They now face Clontarf in the semi-final, and next Sunday Lansdowne in the final of the J1 League, at the Aviva Stadium. Eanna was very pleased and could see the fruits of his labours developing, however he would agree there are still some adjustments and tightening to do before he goes there.
There was success right through junior and youth rugby and special congratulations to the U14s who won their league and trophy. Congratulations to Max Shirley, son of DoR Alan, who was part of that team and no surprise to hear that Max is the star kicker.
Match Squad
15 S Kilgallen, 14 S Kennedy, 13 E Carey, 12 P O’Beirne, 11 R Moore, 10 A McEvoy (Capt.), 9 S McGrath, 8 J Durkan, 7 H Noonan, 6 D Lyons, 5 L Potts, 4 I Wickham, 3 J Reidy-Walsh, 2 J Harding, 1 A Mulvihill, 16 M McHugh, 17 K Quinn, 18 J Lynch, 19 J Halpin, .
D O’Brien.